Ontario Government Boosting Housing Supports

Ontario is increasing its investment in housing assistance and supports across the province to help up to 6,000 families in need remain permanently housed - a major step forward in its goal to end chronic homelessness by 2025.

Chris Ballard, Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, was at the Native Women's Centre Mountain View in Hamilton today to announce the new investment. Twenty per cent of the new funding will be dedicated to supporting Indigenous people.

The new supports, such as counselling, addictions services and life skills training, will help people who are homeless and experiencing addictions, or living with mental illness or disabilities, to obtain housing and remain permanently housed. The funding will allow municipalities and Indigenous organizations to deliver ongoing supportive housing programs that best meet the needs of chronically homeless people in their communities.

This investment builds on the three-year funding for supportive housing that was previously announced in March 2016 as part of the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy update. In the coming days, the province will launch a selection process to choose a number of municipalities to participate in the program, and will work with Indigenous partners to select organizations that will deliver these services for Indigenous people.

Working with Indigenous partners to end chronic homelessness by 2025 is one of many steps on Ontario's journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.